Sports for an independent Confederate States of America?

althisfan

Banned
Anyone have any suggestions for popular sports in an independent CSA? Baseball, basketball, football, and volleyball were all invented/evolved into modern professional form in the North (NYC/NJ for baseball; Northeastern (mostly NJ) colleges for football; Springfield, MA area YMCAs for basketball and volleyball), would the South have similar sports but maybe some rules changes, or can we see some obscure Southern sport OTL being a national professional game in the CSA.
 
Trade links with the United Kingdom plus immigration (like the Italians in New Orleans) result in association football and/or rugby being introduced, and the games are taken up by lower class Southern class whites and eventually Southern blacks and eventually all Southern society?
 

althisfan

Banned
Trade links with the United Kingdom plus immigration (like the Italians in New Orleans) result in association football and/or rugby being introduced, and the games are taken up by lower class Southern class whites and eventually Southern blacks and eventually all Southern society?
I like it!
 

TruthfulPanda

Gone Fishin'
Are there any sports which - albeit invented/codified in the North - caught on in the South faster and then spread back North? Just curious ...
 

althisfan

Banned
Are there any sports which - albeit invented/codified in the North - caught on in the South faster and then spread back North? Just curious ...
Possibly golf? The first time golf is mentioned in colonial America was in 1659 when Albany, NY banned playing it in the streets. Baseball was introduced to the South (and westerners) by Northern troops during the Civil War so we might see two versions of the game being played as "national" rules are codified and different national (or American ;)) leagues are formed, perhaps as time goes on those hoping to create a true CSA national culture and heritage perhaps intentionally change their baseball's name and create a mythos regarding a southern creation? (similar to Webster creating his dictionary to make American English standardized in a way different from British English?)
 
Considering that much of the upper class of the CSA were very aristocratic. It's quite plausible that the sports of the Confederacy would be those popular with the British and French upper class. Cricket, Golf and Rugby are the most likely.

Just a thought: Since the South had quite a lot of Scots-Irish immigration historically, it's possible a revival of Gaelic sports could be done as way to define their culture as separate from the Anglo dominated North.
 

Kaze

Banned
The South did play baseball it existed in a form before the Civil War under the 1845 Knickerbocker Rules. There is even rumors about a brief 8-inning truce between Northern and Confederate soldiers to play a single game against each other - the kicker is the Southern troops won the game.
 

Marc

Donor
Y'all are forgetting the Sport of Kings: Horse racing.
Which was in its heyday in the South easily as popular as NASCAR is now.
Closely related, and very much as in the essence of the aristocratic tradition would be Polo and fox hunting.

And of course, the quintessential sport for many southerners: Coon hunting.
Coon hunting has its major competitive events in the South, very prestigious.
And no, not being patronizing.
 
Just imagine how cool a baseball league in the South would be. I can imagine that it wouldn’t occur until at least the late 1890’s. It was very popular with CSA troops and I’d imagine the teams would be put together by wealthy landowners looking to make more money.
 
This is a list of teams for a Football league in my Confederate wank. Hope its relevant.


The Professional Football Association

Guide and Index


Northern Division

Richmond Virginians: est. 1913
In 1913, a group of University of Virginia Cavaliers gathered to form a Amateur Football Club. Originally the team was incorporated as the Richmond Cavaliers but this caused confusion with the Old Dominion Cavaliers of Virginia Beach. The Virginians joined the Virginian Football League and in 1922, joined the newly formed Eastern Football League. When the plan to merge the EFL with the WSFA came down, the Virginians were chosen to join the new league, known as the PFA.

Norfolk Bloodhounds: est. 1920
Founded by the Norfolk Police Department in 1920, the team was also known as the Sheriffs (1920-1921) and the Blues (1922-1924) before they settled on the name Bloodhounds. The Norfolk team had entered the EFL in 1921 as the Sheriffs and would remain in the league until the PFA was created.

Virginia Beach Sharks: est. 1965
The Virginia Beach Sharks were, along with the Nashville Spartans, an expansion franchise in the PFA in 1965. Virginia Beach had formally been home to the VFL’s Old Dominion Cavaliers, who had become the Virginia Beach Cavaliers after joining the EFL. The Cavaliers were not included in the merger that created the PFA in 1935 however. The Sharks were originally to be called the Cavaliers, but the University of Virginia objected to branding. As a result the name Sharks was chosen from a fan contest.

Newport News Barracudas: est. 1975
Newport News had been home to pro football before, including the EFL’s Dukes (1921-1923) and the short lived, but successful Kings (1930-1934) who managed to win the 1933 EFL Championship. In 1975, the PFA expanded for the last time, and along with bringing a team to Tampa-Saint Petersburg brought a new team to Newport News.

Central

Saint Louis Giants: est. 1922
The Giants had a rather inauspicious start. Saint Louis, had been a great city for football before John Small, an oil millionaire, formed his team. He had decided to form a team after witnessing the 1921 EFL Title game between the Virginia Beach Cavaliers and the Charleston Sea Wolves. He loved the game so much he decided to field an all star team and field them in Saint Louis. He founded the Saint Louis Cardinals Football Club and got the Baseball club to share Sportsman Park. Even though he entered the team in the Missouri-Illinois League, the Cardinals soon dominated to much and killed the League. Sports writers angry at the Cardinal’s monopoly coined the name “Small’s Giants”. When the Cardinals joined the newly formed Central States Football Association (CSFA) in 1925 the team officially renamed itself the Giants in what Small referred to as “my first loss to free speech.” The Giants retained the name into the Western States Football Alliance (1930-1934) and then into the PFA.

Louisville Kings: est. 1948
After the Second World War, a group of veterans who had played before the war, met in Louisville to form a football club. The team immediately joined a reformed PFA and the Louisville Kings went on to defeat the Norfolk Bloodhounds. They were named the Kings in honor of King Louis, for whom the city of Louisville was named.

Nashville Spartans: est. 1965
Nashville had been home to the old Nashville Knoxvilleans (1930-1932) of the WSFA but had really always concentrated on the Baseball team, the Nashville Seraphs. The name Spartans was chosen to reflect the Ancient Greek theme that pervades Nashville.

Indianapolis Indians: est. 1966
In 1965, the PFA expanded by two teams, the Nashville Spartans and the Virginia Beach Sharks. The city of Indianapolis had failed several times to get an expansion franchise for the PFA several times. Although an ownership group and stadium were put together, the PFA refused to allow a third team in expansion. As a result the Indians joined the fledgling American Football League. The Indians would join the PFA in 1970, rather then merge into the NFL.

South

Atlanta Crackers: est. 1903
The Stevenson Cracker Company was established in Atlanta in the 1870’s and became a powerhouse in the region. In 1903, the Stevenson Cracker Football Club was formed to play in the Georgia Football Union. In 1920, the team turned professional and was renamed the Atlanta Stevenson Crackers. This was shortened in 1922 to just Atlanta Crackers. The Crackers joined the Eastern Football League in 1923 and then joined the PFA in 1935.

Charleston Sea Wolves: est. 1920
The Sea Wolves was the nickname given the U-Boat Corps of the Confederate Navy in the Great War. After the Great War, many of the Confederate sailors were left in Charleston. In 1920 the Sea Wolves were formed from an All Star collective formed from the Charleston Municipal Football League who joined the Carolinian Football League. In 1922 the Sea Wolves joined the EFL and then were chosen to join the PFA.

Birmingham Vulcans: est. 1970
The Vulcans were chosen along with the Indians to join the PFA in 1970. Birmingham had fielded two different Football teams previously, the Steelers (1919-1928) of the the Central States Football Association and the Alabama Appaloosas (1930-1933) of the Western States Football Alliance. The name Vulcans was chosen to reflect Birmingham’s past as a city of steel making.

Tampa Bay Cats: est. 1975
Tampa had never been a city of Football, and all media in the city had always been about the Tabaqueros, the baseball squad. However, in 1930, the Tabaqueros fielded a team known the Tampa Tabby Cats. The team became affectionately known as the Cats but was forced to fold when the Floridian State Football League was folded. In 1975 the PFA expanded once again and added a team to Tampa. A naming contest was held and the finalists were Stallions, Buccaneers and Cats. Cats was chosen for its sentimentality.

Western

Dallas Texans: est. 1910
The Dallas Texans were founded in 1910, by alumni of the University of Texas. The Texans joined the Texas State Alumni Football Union (TSAFU) and immediately became rivals with fellow Dallas Clubs, the Christians and the Bears. The Texans then joined the Western States Football Alliance or WSFA in 1923 and the PFA in 1935.

Kansas City Cowboys: est. 1918
In 1918, after the Great War, a Football Club was founded in Kansas City known as the Steers. The Steers eventually became known as the Cowboys in 1921 and joined the WSFA in 1923. The Cowboys were chosen to join the PFA in 1930.

New Orleans Dragons: est. 1960
The Dragons were the result of 1960 expansion. New Orleans had never been home to a Pro Football franchise. However after Governor Dickson campaigned for a Louisiana team after York Stadium hosted the 1957 Stonewall Bowl between the Saint Louis Giants and the Charleston Sea Wolves. The name Dragons was chosen in a Nickname contest.

Houston Oilers: est. 1960
Houston had a history of Football teams including the TSAFU’s Houston Roughriders (1910-1914) and the WSFA’s Bobcats (1929-1934) but the name Oilers was chosen to reflect Houston’s Oil industry in 60’s. This also reflected ConOil, the owner of the Oilers until 1981.
 
The Crackers once choked away a 28-3 lead in the championship game.

(It's funny because the OTL Falcons choked away a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl.)
 
Here are some other leagues from the same TL.

National Soccer League

East Division
Tredegar Steel Richmond Soccer Club: aka TS Richmond, TSRSC or the Steel Kings.
Virginia Beach-Old Dominion United: aka the Oldies: Formed from Virginia Beach- Old Dominion Merger in 1970.
Senators Football Club: aka SFC: Descended from Senators Hill, name changed in 1949.
Veterans Athletic Club: aka the Vets.
Banditos FC: Home in Wilmington, North Carolina
Miami Kaisers Sport Club.

West Division
York Industries Athletic Association: aka the Zebbies.
Lone Star Athletics-Houston: aka the Stars: Play in Houston
Texas United: aka the Rangers: Play in Dallas
New Orleans City: aka the Citizens.
Metropolitan Metairie FC: aka the Metros.


National Basketball League or the NBL

East
Richmond Spartans: established 1957
Richmond Senators: established 1956
Virginia Beach Skippers: established 1960
Charleston Bulldogs: established 1956

Central
Birmingham Bears: established 1949
Mobile Leopards: established 1952 as Mobile Jungle Cats
Miami Magic: established 1972
Kentucky Monarch: established 1965
Atlanta Olympians: established 1954

West
Saint Louis Crescents: established 1960 as New Orleans Crescents
Houston Lions: established 1951 as Saint Louis Buckskins
Dallas Rangers: established 1972
Memphis Pharoahs: established 1965
Little Rock Arkies: established 1959
 
The Crackers once choked away a 28-3 lead in the championship game.

(It's funny because the OTL Falcons choked away a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl.)

Just a list of titles. Haven't been updated in a while but heres what I got.

Stonewall Bowl

1935. Dallas Texans over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1936. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Dallas Chritsians
1937. Dallas Texans over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1938. Richmond Virginians over Saint Louis Giants
1939. Kansas City Cowboys over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1940. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Kansas City Cowboys
1941. Charleston Sea Wolves over Dallas Texans
1942-1948: Suspended due to war.
1949. Louisville Kings over Charleston Sea Wolves
1950. Louisville Kings over Atlanta Crackers
1951. Richmond Virginians over Louisville Kings
1952. Dallas Texans over Richmond Virginians
1953. Louisville Kings over Richmond Virginians
1954. Richmond Virginians over Dallas Texans
1955. Dallas Texans over Atlanta Crackers
1956. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Saint Louis Giants
1957. Kansas City Cowboys over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1958. Kansas City Cowboys over Richmond Virginians
1959. Saint Louis Giants over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1960. Richmond Virginians over Saint Louis Giants
1961. Saint Louis Giants over Atlanta Crackers
1962. Saint Louis Giants over Richmond Virginians
1963. Richmond Virginians over Dallas Texans
1964. Richmond Virginians over Kansas City Cowboys
1965. Atlanta Crackers over Saint Louis Giants
1966. Atlanta Crackers over Charleston Sea Wolves
1967. Charleston Sea Wolves over Dallas Texans
1968. Louisville Kings over Charleston Sea Wolves
1969. Atlanta Crackers over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1970. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Louisville Kings
1971. Charleston Sea Wolves over Saint Louis Giants
1972. Louisville Kings over New Orleans Dragons
1973. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Saint Louis Giants
1974. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Saint Louis Giants
1975. Louisville Kings over Houston Oilers
1976. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Tennessee Spartans
1977. Dallas Texans over Louisville Kings
1978. Charleston Sea Wolves over Atlanta Crackers
1979. Atlanta Crackers over Kansas City Cowboys
1980. Kansas City Cowboys over Virginia Beach Sharks
1981. Houston Oilers over Tennessee Spartans
1982. Kansas City Cowboys over Indianapolis Indians
1983. Kansas City Cowboys over Richmond Virginians
1984. Indianapolis Indians over Houston Oilers
1985. Houston Oilers over Virginia Beach Sharks
1986. Richmond Virginians over Indianapolis Indians
1987. Richmond Virginians over New Orleans Dragons
1988. Virginia Beach Sharks over Atlanta Crackers
1989. Richmond Virginians over Virginia Beach Sharks
1990. New Orleans Dragons over Birmingham Vulcans
1991. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Houston Oilers
1992. New Orleans Dragons over Louisville Kings
1993. Saint Louis Giants over Norfolk Bloodhounds
1994. Louisville Kings over Charleston Sea Wolves
1995. Charleston Sea Wolves over Dallas Texans
1996. Charleston Sea Wolves over Dallas Texans
1997. Dallas Texans over Miami Barracudas
1998. Tennessee Spartans over Charleston Sea Wolves
1999. Saint Louis Giants over Virginia Beach Sharks
2000. Saint Louis Giants over Tennessee Spartans
2001. Indianapolis Indians over Saint Louis Giants
2002. Virginia Beach Sharks over Norfolk Bloodhounds
2003. Saint Louis Giants over Indianapolis Indians
2004. Atlanta Crackers over Houston Oilers
2005. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Houston Oilers
2006. Saint Louis Giants over Norfolk Bloodhounds
2007. Richmond Virginians over Miami Barracudas
2008. Miami Barracudas over Saint Louis Giants
2009. Norfolk Bloodhounds over Saint Louis Giants
2010. Miami Barracudas over Atlanta Crackers
2011. Louisville Kings over Richmond Virginians
 

Marc

Donor
You do realize that one of the consequences would be the extremely likely absence of black athletes in professional sports. In a hypothetical apartheid South, unquestionably; and a very good chance of an acute paucity in the North: for an exercise, pick a short list of favorite black athletes, look up where they were born and raised.
In context, not the worse of tragedies, but for our hearts and souls, not a minor one...
 

althisfan

Banned
You do realize that one of the consequences would be the extremely likely absence of black athletes in professional sports. In a hypothetical apartheid South, unquestionably; and a very good chance of an acute paucity in the North: for an exercise, pick a short list of favorite black athletes, look up where they were born and raised.
In context, not the worse of tragedies, but for our hearts and souls, not a minor one...
Sports have historically been segregated until "relatively" recently, this only becomes an issue in sports history beginning with 1947, many sports were dominated by Jews early on (Cy Young most famously being adamant about not playing on holy days) and Mormons. We could also see an apartheid South having Black players in "their" own leagues performing for the amusement of the elite, the elite play tennis, golf, etc while they have Blacks play football, boxing, and other more strenuous (dangerous) sports. Helmets, the forward pass, and being paid as professional athletes OTL probably don't exist in football in the South in this ATL.
 

althisfan

Banned
You do realize that one of the consequences would be the extremely likely absence of black athletes in professional sports. In a hypothetical apartheid South, unquestionably; and a very good chance of an acute paucity in the North: for an exercise, pick a short list of favorite black athletes, look up where they were born and raised.
In context, not the worse of tragedies, but for our hearts and souls, not a minor one...
What do you think about the ability of the North to be able to bring in Blacks from the South as OTL sports bring in players from overseas? (Baseball with Cuban, Dominican, Haiti, Puerto Ricans and basketball with Slavic, Italian, and Chinese) Would the South allow their Apartheid downtrodden Blacks to leave for the North for sports reasons?
 
http://www.academia.edu/5405666/Baseball_During_the_Civil_War_and_Reconstruction_Era

"Baseball was mainly played in urban areas,which caused the south to lag behind the north in the organization of baseball organizations, but it also became popular in what cities the rural south had: baseball was organized in cities such as New Orleans (where at least 7 teams were organized in 1860);Baltimore, Maryland; Washington D.C.; and Louisville, Kentucky prior to the war.”

Baseball was already a popular organized sport in the South by the time of the Civil War with routine inter-city games. The only thing lacking was a major league.

While up to the point of the Civil War the game of baseball had been solely a sport for white men, just preceding the Civil War several black teams were organized. “Reports of their baseball matches were carried in the New York Anglo- African as early as July 30, 1859 —
possibly the first published account of a baseball game by African-Americans.”


It seems likely that black leagues will still be a thing in an independent South, even in a heavy apartheid situation (which is kind of our history of the sport anyway).
 
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